Page 122 of Beautiful Trauma

“Why can’t you?” he huffed.

She swept her hands to her hips. “Because Mila needs a shower and I didn’t think you’d want to help her with that.”

Lev grimaced. “I’ll get the fucking smoothies.” He nodded at me. “Need anything else?”

After exchanging a look with Kira, I said, “I’m hungry, but I need something soft. Maybe Vera could make some soup?”

“Okay, I’ll bring some back.”

I gave him a genuine smile. “Thanks, Lev. You’re the best.”

Once he was out of earshot, I cocked my brows at Kira. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

“Saving your life…and Kellan’s,” she whispered back.

My heartbeat accelerated wildly in my chest. “Why?”

As she pretended to fluff my pillow, she said, “Although Dima made Father promise to spare you, Father won’t allow what he perceives as your traitor behavior. Especially if it makes him look weak in front of his men”

“Even though he wants to see me punished, Dima won’t forgive him if he actually killed me.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I heard him talking in his study when he didn’t know I was listening in. You’re going to ‘kill yourself’ when you learn of Kellan’s death.”

As I gasped, a hand flew to my mouth. “Oh God.”

“I don’t want to lose you, Mila. At least if you’re banished, I know you’re still alive.”

“You could come with me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t leave the others. Dima won’t survive losing the both of us.”

Pain ricocheted through my chest. “I hate that I have to hurt him. That I have to hurt you.”

She gave me a humorless smile. “You can’t help who you fall in love with. Maybe you and Kellan were destined to be together all along.”

I hiccuped a cry. “That’s the truly tragic part of all this. If Father wasn’t an absolute bastard, he could realize that if Kellan and I got together he would still get the alliance he originally wanted. ”

“His pride will eventually be his downfall,” Kira replied.

“It can’t come fucking soon enough.”

She nodded. “That’s why you have to get out here. You know where the chamber is, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“The ones who have been taking part in his torture are having dinner. It’s the best time to do this since there should only be one guard on watch.”

“And I shoot him?”

She rolled her eyes. “Jesus, Mila, where is your head? You can’t pop off a round and not have anyone come running.”

“Excuse me for not being at my best at the moment.”

“Go to the medicine closet. Get a sedative for the guard. You’ll need morphine for Kellan and probably adrenaline.”

I stared wide-eyed at her. “You’ve thought of everything.”

“I learned from the best.”